Serious-crime Reports Increase 10% In Village

Lakemoor — Fifty-five of more than 1,100 police calls last year were for crimes Police Chief Ted Bracke described as serious in a recent report to the Village Board.

But those 55 calls, for such incidents as burglaries, thefts and aggravated assault, were up 10 percent from 1994's level of activity, Bracke told trustees last week.

Police responded to 1,137 calls in 1995, Bracke said. Most of those calls involved assisting residents with keys locked in cars, lost dogs and other minor issues, he said.

Misdemeanor calls, including criminal damage to property and petty theft, accounted for 184 calls, an increase of about 40 percent from the year before, Bracke said.

Arrests for drunken driving declined to 5 last year from 36 in 1994, a drop Bracke attributed to a greater awareness by motorists of the penalties for driving under the influence. The chief also credited the use of designated drivers, and campaigns against drinking and driving by such groups as Mothers Against Drunk Driving also helped.

"We've experienced some growth in the area, and with growth comes more crime. But our DUIs and traffic accidents have decreased from 1994," Bracke said.